Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Partners with the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District to Create an Immersive Experience that Reimagines the Road’s Lush Landscape
Over 120 QR Coded-Signs Have Been Installed on Lincoln Road to Guide Visitors Through the District’s Vibrant Vegetation
[fusion_button link=”http://fairchildgarden.org/interpretation/lr/” text_transform=”” title=”” target=”_blank” link_attributes=”” alignment_medium=”” alignment_small=”” alignment=”” modal=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” color=”default” button_gradient_top_color=”” button_gradient_bottom_color=”” button_gradient_top_color_hover=”” button_gradient_bottom_color_hover=”” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” type=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”” border_radius=”” border_color=”” border_hover_color=”” size=”” stretch=”default” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]Visit the Fairchild on Lincoln Website[/fusion_button]Beginning on November 19, 2020, visitors to Lincoln Road will have the opportunity to engage in self-guided tours of the Road’s tropical foliage
MIAMI, FL – November 19, 2020 – Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, renowned for its world-class collection of tropical plants, has reimagined Lincoln Road as a beautiful botanical garden. By carefully installing over 120 QR-coded signs on trees, palms, orchids, and plants, Fairchild Garden, in partnership with the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District (BID), has created a smartphone-accessible, self-guided tour of the spectacular plant life flourishing on Lincoln Road. After scanning the code, visitors will connect to a virtual guide filled with photos, videos, and notable information from Fairchild’s scientists; available in English and Spanish.
“Lincoln Road is globally recognized as a district brimming with arts, culture, shopping, dining, and entertainment, but we would be remiss not to attribute part of the Road’s reputation to its subtropical plantings,” said Tim Schmand, executive director of the Lincoln Road BID. “Our newfound partnership with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden allows us to do just that. By highlighting Lincoln Road’s natural beauty, we provide our visitors with a unique, educational, and complimentary outdoor experience. Where else in the world can you stroll down a pedestrian promenade that was once open to automobiles and have lunch under a flowering royal poinciana, shop surrounded by a thriving community of endangered butterflies, or simply stop and smell the flowers, all in an urban setting steps away from the Atlantic Ocean?”
Originally forged from native hardwood hammock and mangrove swamp in 1912, the City of Miami Beach commissioned world-famous architect Morris Lapidus in the late 1950s to transform the Lincoln Road into a lively lifestyle destination – complete with an ornamental plant collection, flowing fountains, and shaded areas for respite. Many of the current plantings were done during that era. Today, Lincoln Road includes a wide representation of tropical landscapes from around the world – some of the most notable plants include flowering trees like the royal poinciana, sausage tree, and Tabebuia, and palms such as the Sabal palms, date palms, and Caribbean thatch palms. Various ecologically significant plants have also been incorporated into the landscape, supporting interactions with rare birds and insects. The native coontie cycad, which can be found across Lincoln Road, supports one of the largest colonies of the endangered Atala butterfly.
Prior to the recent collaboration, the Lincoln Road BID partnered with Fairchild Garden in 2019 for the Garden’s “Million Orchid Project” and attached thousands of orchids – which more than a century ago blanketed oak and mahogany trees across South Florida – to the Road’s existing trees.
“We are thrilled to bring much-deserved attention to the stunning and valuable plants of Lincoln Road,” said Carl Lewis, Director of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. “With a truly iconic landscape, the district is a perfect place for residents and visitors to begin exploring the world of tropical plants. Using this project on Lincoln Road as a model, we hope to encourage the creation and improvement of other green spaces to build a larger community of gardens throughout South Florida.”
Noteworthy Plants Found on Each Block of Lincoln Road:
- Alton-Lenox: Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)
- Lenox-Michigan: Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota)
- Michigan-Jefferson: Royal poinciana (Delonix regia)
- Jefferson-Meridian: Lady of the night orchid (Brassavola grandiflora)
- Meridian-Euclid: Sausage tree (Kigelia africana)
- Euclid-Pennsylvania: Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)
- Pennsylvania-Drexel: Triangle palm (Dypsis decaryi)
- Drexel-Washington: West Indian laurel fig (Ficus americana)
To further attract locals, residents, and visitors to Lincoln Road in a safe manner, the Lincoln Road BID has curated a list complimentary programming which includes sky-high fitness classes hosted atop the seventh floor of the iconic 1111 parking garage every weekend, the “Musicians in Golf Carts” series in partnership with the New World Symphony, which enlivens the street with the sound of music on the first weekend of every month, and has launched a new retail popup program that has recently attracted car-show popup exhibitions by Lexus and Toyota at 744 and 904 Lincoln Road respectively.
Scan to visit Fairchild onLincoln dedicated website
To learn more about the Lincoln Road BID’s partnership with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, please visit www.lincolnrd.com or follow the Lincoln Road BID on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @LincolnRd.
About Lincoln Road
Renowned worldwide for its bustling outdoor cafes, eclectic restaurants, and fine-dining establishments, Miami’s Lincoln Road District is the cultural and social epicenter of Miami Beach. Also considered the entertainment district of Miami Beach, some of the city’s most popular performance venues are located in the Lincoln Road District, including the famed Colony Theater, Lincoln Theatre, New World Symphony, and Fillmore Miami Beach. Prioritizing the health and safety of all visitors, the District maintains strict sanitation standards and commissioned a local artist to design fashionable face masks, which are distributed to pedestrians free of charge. Lincoln Road’s picturesque corridor is the idyllic setting for those seeking to enjoy shopping, dining, leisurely walks and cultural experiences in a safe, open-air environment.
About Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Fairchild Garden is currently celebrating its 82 anniversary in the community. Established in 1938 and comprising 83 acres, Fairchild is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to exploring, explaining, and conserving the world of tropical plants. The Garden is recognized both nationally and internationally as the premier leader in conservation and education-based programs with field operations in over 20 countries, including support to protected areas globally from Madagascar to Central America. Fairchild has the largest education program of any metropolitan area, reaching more than 300,000 schoolchildren each year with programs like The Fairchild Challenge, The Million Orchid Project, Growing Beyond Earth, and its BioTECH High School. Special events include Chocolate, Mango and Orchid Festivals in addition to art exhibitions, concerts, plant sales, and more. Information at www.fairchildgarden.org and follow at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
